Mikel Arteta has shed light on the bizarre double incident which saw Arsenal players Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi pick up injuries in the post-game warm down after the 2-1 win over Leeds
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has lost two Arsenal players in Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi to injury
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"It's far from ideal," said Mikel Arteta when quizzed on Arsenal's bizarre double injury blow ahead of his side's Champions League home clash against Lille.
In two separate incidents during Saturday's cool down after the 2-1 Premier League victory over Leeds, Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi both sustained ankle issues that will see them miss tonight's contest at the Emirates Stadium.
Ironically, both have been eager for an opportunity and would have likely started. "It never happened in seven years that I was here," added Arteta. To his credit, he spoke openly on the ordeal and indicated that he prefers his players to train with intensity. In his mind, a lack of intensity in training would prove detrimental in matches.
The Spaniard wants that hunger, drive and determination from his stars, particularly from those that are on the fringes of his starting XI or short of fitness. They are negotiable principles that help create a winning environment. Now Arsenal face a nervous wait to discover the extent of the damage as both players have been undergoing tests and scans.
When asked how these kind of situations could be avoided moving forward, he explained: "It's very easy, you don't train. Never train, and they don't get injured, the consequence of that is when they have to play, they have no rhythm, and when you ask them to play, they're going to have no impact in the game.
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"That [incident] could happen at the Emirates, it never happened in seven years that I was here, it could happen the next day in the training session, and that has happened before, and hopefully it happens now and doesn't happen again. What can you do? If I knew I had a crystal ball clear, I'd say, guys, 'go in the jacuzzi, everybody, I'll see you tomorrow'."
This line of thinking typifies why Arteta is such a great manager. In his eyes, only the maximum will do. Always.
Equally, it was impossible to ignore one other key and telling line from his press conference. Arteta was asked how he felt about Hincapie eventually being transported off the pitch on the back of goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Meslier was merely trying to help Hincapie as he left the field as he could not put any sort of weight on his ankle. It was a gesture that came from a good place, but the viral video footage did not cover any of them in glory.
It all seemed a bit amateurish and Sunday League. Of course, injuries do happen in training. Neither seemingly could have been helped.
Piero Hincapie and Illan Meslier
Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie was carried off on the back of Illan Meslier after suffering his injury
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But the optics are not great on the back of wholesale changes in the medical department and Arteta briefly hinted that he wasn't best pleased with the lack of proactivity surrounding Hincapie's injury.
When asked if he was concerned by footage of Meslier and others carrying the Ecuador defender, who was evidently in pain, Arteta replied: "That's something else not to discuss here."
Arteta cares deeply about the standards he has set. After all, they carried Arsenal to Premier League title glory for the first time in 22 years and the Champions League final last season.
If it requires an honest review to prevent anything of a similar nature happening again, that's what Arteta will do as he possesses the IQ, experience, charisma, knowledge and authority to control the club and keep driving Arsenal forward.